Cable companies Comcast, Cox, and Rogers Cable have reach deals with bankrupt Internet provider Excite@Home to continue service for three months. Comcast and Cox will each pay Excite $160 million up front and no longer pay monthly fees for their 800,000 and 555,000 respective subscribers. Rogers Cable has also reached a similar deal, according to the company. Other partners including Adelphia and Charter are still negotiating terms.

The agreements come just days after @Home service was turned off to AT&T subscribers, when the company reportedly refused to pay Excite $100 million. Most of Excite@Home's cable partners have been working around the clock to switch customers onto their own networks, and the three month buffer period will allow for a smoother transition.

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UPDATED After news about a revolutionary transportation device code-named Ginger leaked to the Internet in the form of a book proposal last January, speculation and rumors spread like wildfire throughout the technology sector. Everyone was eager to learn about the ultra-secret "IT" from inventor Dean Kamen that graced the sights of only a select few, including Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Almost a year later, Kamen has completed the necessary patent filings and is now ready for the world to learn about his creation, officially dubbed 'Segway'.

The much-hyped device is sure to be a disappointment to those expecting a hydrogen-powered hovercraft, but the Segway has greatly impressed the few who have had the chance to ride. Very similar in design to the scooter-like drawings included in Kamen's patent filings, the Segway can travel up to 12 miles per hour and has no brakes, gearshift, or engine. The rider controls the 65-pound, single-axle Segway in a standing position in a way that seems almost magical at first.

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Opera Software today unveiled version 6.0 of its Opera Web browser for Windows, completely revamped from previous releases. Listening to feedback from its users, Opera 6.0 includes a customizable user interface and support for tabbed single window browsing - a shift from Opera's trademark multiple document interface. This latest update also includes a fix for the browser's first security snafu since 1996, a JavaScript bug discovered in the 6.0 beta version released earlier this month.

Opera 6.0 increases speed over its predecessors, targeting image rendering and general Web page display. The main toolbar has also been redesigned with a modern look, following the path of recent Netscape releases. A slew of new features have been added, including sidebar panels akin to Netscape, hotclicks for quick searching and translations, a customizable personal bar, greatly improved bookmarks, and support for the Unicode Worldwide Character Set.

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Microsoft on Wednesday released the final version of Windows XP Embedded, the componentized edition of the OS designed for full-featured connected devices. Windows XP Embedded is based on the same binaries found in XP Professional and runs on devices such as set-top boxes, gaming systems, self-service kiosks, industrial automation, and residential gateways.

Developers can order a free 120-day evaluation copy, which provides full support for testing embedded images. Windows XP Embedded offers pre-built configurations and over 10,000 components for developers to utilize. The OS also includes headless support and flexible boot and storage options to accommodate most embedded devices.

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Nintendo is claiming an initial victory in its U.S. launch war with Microsoft's Xbox, touting sales figures of over 500,000 units at a rate of nearly twice that of Xbox. GameCube's first game, Luigi's Mansion, has also been dubbed the most popular console launch game ever, selling more copies than Nintendo's previous king Super Mario 64. Early sales figures indicate GameCube is even selling 25 percent faster than Playstation 2 did after last year's launch.

Nintendo shipped 740,000 consoles to North America and the 565,000 that made it to U.S. retail outlets are now sold out the company says. Microsoft has not released specific sales figures for Xbox as of yet. Nintendo will be shipping 125,000 new units each week through the holidays, compared to Microsoft's 100,000.

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In a move which is sure to promote early adoption of Web services, Microsoft today announced the .NET Best Student Awards 2001, a contest for North American college and university students. The contest challenges students to develop new XML services based on the .NET platform, and will award over $60,000 USD in cash and prizes. The awards are meant to recognize student developers who innovate with XML, SOAP, WSDL and UDDI - the core protocols behind Microsoft's .NET initiative.

To enter, individuals or teams of up to four must simply submit an idea for a new XML Web service centered on the .NET platform by December 31. According to Microsoft, up to 100 semifinalists "will be selected based on the strength of their proposal. Students are encouraged to submit a complete description of their proposed Web service, including the real-world problem to be solved, the end users to be targeted, and the technologies to be used. Semifinalists will receive server space, tools and support to enable them to build their Web service. Final entries will be due by March 15, 2002."

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Electronic Arts' Westwood Studios will be holding an open beta test for Command & Conquer: Renegade, a new 3D action game set in the Command & Conquer universe. Signups will begin at 12:01 AM on November 28 and run for 24 hours. The beta will be split into three phases, each with 500 testers. Those players who rank in the top ten percent will be invited back for the next week's phase.

Selected applicants will play the online team-based multiplayer mode of the game for one week. According to EA, "In C&C Mode, two teams of players, GDI and Nod, fight to destroy each other's base. The beta test will include four different multiplay maps, and players will be able to play as any of the 28 characters, use all of the 23 weapons, and drive all of the 11 vehicles in the game."

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Reports indicate that build 3590 of Windows .NET Server, formerly Whistler Server or Windows 2002, has been designated Beta 3. Registered testers and Microsoft partners can obtain the build from official download sites.

First announced at COMDEX Fall 2001 during Bill Gates's state of the industry keynote, Beta 3 is aimed squarely at developers. Despite numerous delays, .NET Server is now ready for primetime and Microsoft plans to push early adoption of the platform to further its Web services initiative. The next generation Windows Server will add native support for XML, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI protocols, as well as integrate Microsoft's .NET Framework to enable rapid development of Web sites, services and applications.

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It was five years ago that Mirabilis Ltd, an Internet startup located in Tel Aviv, Israel, launched a new service to bring computer users together called ICQ, or I Seek You. The brainchild of four Israeli computer programmers, ICQ was released on November 15, 1996 to little fanfare. Just six months later, it claimed the title of world's largest online communication network. Another month and the service would welcome its one millionth user.

Originally a bare-bones Windows application to simply send text messages across the Internet, ICQ has evolved into a complex, multimedia communication tool. Today's ICQ clients contain features such as file transfer, voice chat, SMS paging, post-it notes, to do lists, greeting cards, birthday reminders, and links to ICQ's portal homepage where you can find the latest in sports, traveling, movies, and more. In addition, numerous clones have appeared for a variety of operating systems.

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With the immense hype surrounding Apple's new pocket-sized digital audio player, many Windows users were astonished to learn the device would not work with their OS of choice. Sticking to what the company knows best, pleasing its Macintosh user base, Apple built iPod to require iTunes, software that only runs on Mac OS. But Mediafour plans remedy this problem, and will soon issue a public beta of XPod -- software to make iPod function in Windows.

With a 5GB hard drive -- enough to store 1,000 songs at 160Kbps -- and a weight of 6.5 ounces, iPod is a dream come true for many digital audio fanatics. Its refined interface and 10 hour battery life has been a huge hit with many reviewers, despite any ability to function cross-platform.

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Keeping the promise he made at last year's COMDEX keynote, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates used Sunday's address to debut the first prototype Tablet PC devices, or as the company calls them, "the next-generation mobile business PC." Coming in a variety of form factors from a long list of vendors, a Tablet PC may resemble an Etch-a-Sketch, or feature a notebook-like clamshell design. With a full day of battery life and a weight of just 2.5 pounds, Microsoft believes the Tablet PC will solve the problems associated with current mobile computing.

Perhaps learning from the falling PDA and desolate Internet appliance markets, the Tablet PC is a full-fledged computer running Windows XP. It is not intended to simplify tasks, but rather make it easier to complete those tasks when away from a desk, or standing up. Devices will feature pen-based input, as well as speech recognition.

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Seeking to aid companies in improving product development and project management, San Clemente, Calif. startup Centercode launched OnlineBeta, a complete beta testing services suite, late last month. OnlineBeta is comprised of three core features: Web-based project management software dubbed Connect, an extensive database of beta testers, and services to guide companies through their beta cycle. Centercode is seeking dedicated individuals to become evaluators and trial upcoming products and technologies.

At the center of OnlineBeta lies Connect, proprietary software developed with flexibility in mind. Rather than solely target large corporations as its competitors do, Centercode hopes to support the needs of any size test -- from those spanning months with hundreds of testers, to week-long betas requiring only a handful.

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Nine of the eighteen states involved in the Microsoft antitrust suit have officially agreed to settle the case, while the remaining group will push for continued litigation. The Justice Department and Microsoft jointly proposed a settlement last week, and US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly gave the states until Tuesday to decide whether or not to dissent.

The case will now move forward on two parallel tracks, according to Kollar-Kotelly. The public will have 60 days to comment on the settlement, followed by a 30-day period for the government to respond. The court will then hold hearings to ensure that the settlement is in the public's best interest, as required by the Tunney Act.

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Global Operations, a multiplayer first person shooter, is preparing to enter its beta cycle and Barking Dog Studios is looking for 500 testers to trial its new creation. The team based game is built on a modified version of the LithTech engine, also used to create Shogo and Blood2. Global Operations will feature 28 special forces, 32 weapons, and 7 player specialties. A stand alone option with computer controlled teammates and opponents is also available.

According to Barking Dog, "On the battlefield, there is no substitute for communication and organization, and Global Operations utilizes the latest technology and unique features to encourage and create these elements. The unique Intelligence Officer role allows one team leader to become the eyes and ears of the entire group. The team leader coordinates the troops through a combination of real-time cameras and a top-down map to recognize hot spots, guide troops to objectives, and direct reinforcements through both voice over IP and waypoint setting. Successfully directing the best troops to an assignment is challenging as each soldier has specialized skills."

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